Family activities in and around Cardiff
With many websites offering cheap deals on city breaks in Cardiff, there has never been a better time to take a family holiday there. With a whole host of tourist attractions, you’ll never be short of things to do or places to go with the kids. Here is a guide to just a few of the local attractions on offer.
The Millenium Stadium is a stunning new facility that has already played host to several major concerts, such as Madonna and Robbie Williams, and sports events such as the FA Cup final. Tours of the 74,000-seat stadium, where you can try out the Queen’s seat in the Royal box and walk down the player’s tunnel amongst other things, are available when the stadium is not in use. Tickets are £6.50 for adults, £4 for children, and advance booking is required.
The Wales Millenium Centre is another stunning new building which presents international arts events such as ballet, opera, musicals, and contemporary dance in the evening, with tickets costing between £5 and £35 depending on the show. Hour-long tours of the front and back stage areas are available through the day, costing £5 for adults and £4 for concessions, and free live music performances happen in the foyer every lunchtime.
In the past decade, the Cardiff docklands have undergone a huge redevelopment to create Cardiff Bay, containing a large fresh water lake for watersports such as sailing and windsurfing, hotels, a restaurant complex and a large visitor centre known as ‘The Tube’, so called because of its unorthodox tubular construction. The visitor centre is free to enter, and contains exhibitions and multimedia presentations on the history and development of Cardiff Bay, as well as a hugely impressive scale model of the city.
While you’re there, you may wish to pay a visit to Techniquest, a fun, educational indoor science park with over 160 hands-on exhibits and puzzles, a science theatre, and a planetarium. Entry costs £6.90 for adults and £4.80 for children. Fans of Roald Dahl may also want to make a pilgrimage to the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, where the author was christened. The church was originally set up to cater for the religious needs of a large community of Norwegian sailors working in the docks, but has now been turned into an art gallery and café. Entry is free.